Odón de Buen y del Cos

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Odón de Buen y del Cos (1863 in Zuera, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain – 1945 in Mexico City) was a naturalist, politician and publicist. He funded the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, was a senator and council-member in Barcelona.

Born to a tailor, de Buen studied Natural History in Madrid and Zaragoza. He became interested in oceanography after doing research on board of the Blanca fragatta. From 1889 to 1911 taught, zoology and botany at the University of Barcelona. On board of the Averroes, he studied the currents by Gibraltar and the acclimation of the Gambusia affinis, a larva-eating fish used to combat malaria is attributed to him.

In 1939, like many scientist, artists and intellecuatls, he left Spain to Mexico because of the Spanish Civil War. He died in Mexico City in 1945.